An Act to increase student access to career technical education schools and programs which are aligned with regional labor market needs

This bill creates a new Office of Career Technical Education within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to improve and expand vocational training programs across Massachusetts. It requires all high schools to offer at least one career technical education course or internship, aligns programs with regional labor market needs through collaboration with workforce boards, and establishes new credentials to measure student skills and career readiness. The legislation also allows cities to simultaneously participate in vocational and other regional school districts, increases the number of vocational technical schools from 17 to 25, and launches a two-year pilot program to encourage collaboration between high school faculty and guidance counselors to provide skill training for all students.